Saturday, 15 December 2012

Troll Hunter: How to have fun in the Norwegian Backwoods …

I think tonight’s news from the USA — about the Sandy Hook school shootings — definitely left me felling I’d rather not be watching the news.

So I’m hoping you’ll excuse me after what — for me — is a long day, if I hit the sack.

And carry on — in the morning — telling you about the film I saw, tonight, the 2010, André Øvredal directed, Troll Hunter.

15/12/2012.

And I think I can safely say — after sleep, tea and taking in the news — I’ve got my proverbial head together.

I think I needed it: lord along knows what 27 families in Newtown, Connecticut, need. So, before moving on … ? I’m going to offer my condolences to those who’ve lost children and loved, yesterday: and hope the USA decides that maybe toughening its gun laws makes sense.

Paul, enough!

Let’s tell people about the movie …

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Yes, I should, shouldn’t I … ?

Here goes.

The André Øvredal directed film, Troll Hunter, sees a group of college students — Thomas (Glenn Erland Tosterud), Johanna (Johanna Mørck), and their cameraman Kalle (Tomas Alf Larsen) — film a student project that initially follows bear hunters in the Norwegian backwards.

Where it gets strange …

Is when they first encounter Hans — played by noted Norwegian comedian, Otto Jespersen* — who they believe to be a bear poacher.

Following, they find out they’re wrong. Hans isn’t hunting bears.

Oh no …

He’s actually in the front line of a very odd sort of prey.

And one that’s both moving out of it’s usual territory … And has more problems than you think …

One that’s LITERALLY rabid … !

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Now, you’re probably looking at me and wondering whether I enjoyed myself with Trollhunter, last night.

Absolutely … !

OK, granted it’s not perfect: that ‘found footage’ style is going to possibly annoy at least one person I know. And subtitled film — whoever good — aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

None-the-less, Trollhunter is an unrepentant little gem of a film: nicely written, beautifully put together and with a bone-dry sense of humour and irony.

It’s not stunning …

But Trollhunter is certainly worth catching … !

Trollhunter

★★★☆

* Going by his Wikipedia entry, Jespersen’s a touch … ahhh … a touch radical. The NEAREST equivalent I could think of would be — in an English language version of the film — to cast Stephen Fry or Lenny Bruce in the role. Or possibly Warren Mitchell in full-on Alf Garnett mode …